Inman resident Hylton, 78, to climb out of driver's seat

Longtime driver James Hylton will make this his final season on the track, beginning on Saturday with the ARCA Slick Mist 200 at Daytona, Fla.

By GODWIN KELLYHalifax Media Group

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — James Hylton made his first start at Daytona International Speedway in 1966. He will make his last Daytona start Saturday in the 50th annual ARCA Slick Mist 200.The 78-year-old driver from Inman said it's time to hang up his helmet and plans to turn the 2013 ARCA schedule into his farewell tour as a stock-car driver.“I've been thinking about this for quite a while,” Hylton said Wednesday evening. “I'm 78 and the time has come.”Hylton made 36 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starts at Daytona. He won twice in the Cup Series, and his last Cup start was in 1993. He has made four runs between the NASCAR Nationwide and truck series since 2006.Since 1997, Hylton has made 143 ARCA starts.“When his NASCAR deal ended, the door opened up here for James,” ARCA communications media manager Don Radebaugh said.“He's been here for, pushing 15 years now. It gave him a rebirth in the sport. What he's done for us? He is the story wherever we go.”Hylton is a character. He likes to chomp on a cigar and will hold court in fan areas wearing his fire suit.“It's time to step aside as a driver and turn this car over to the younger generation,” Hylton said. “We just now figured this all out. I don't want to lose the Hylton Motorsports race team. I'll be there next year as the general manager.“We are definitely in the market to build up our race team and put younger drivers behind the wheel who can run up front.”Hylton said he had to think long and hard about his decision to retire as a driver. He has mixed feelings about making his last Daytona start.“It's kind of a love-hate relationship,” he said with a laugh. “If I could drive until I was 90 years old, I would. But I need to face the facts. It's too much of a job to be the driver and manage the team.“I'm excited about the future. I feel I have an honest to goodness chance to build my team to where we can be competitive. Next time we come to Daytona, we will have a car and driver capable of winning the race.”Hylton will be in Saturday's 40-car field. He has enough points from 2012 to earn a provisional starting position if needed. “I'm looking forward to driving this last race,” he said. “Who knows? Maybe we can pull an upset like we did at Talladega in 1972.”The '72 victory was Hylton's last Cup win. He made 602 Cup starts.

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